‘The Visitor’ 4K UHD Review (Arrow Video)
Stars: John Huston, Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, Shelley Winters, Sam Peckinpah, Franco Nero | Written by Luciano Comici, Robert Mundi | Directed by Giulio Paradisi
Back in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, cinema became obsessed with stories of supernatural possession. Classics like Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, and The Omen proved just how popular tales of demonic influence could be, and as always in the film industry, success quickly led to imitators looking to cash in on the trend.
Enter The Visitor, a bizarre 1979 Italian production that blends horror, sci-fi and pure cinematic madness into one unforgettable experience. Long regarded as a cult oddity, the film has now been given the deluxe treatment by Arrow Video, who have restored The Visitor in stunning 4K Ultra HD for the very first time.
Killer birds! Psychokinesis! Satanic conspiracies! Exploding basketball hoops! Any attempt to explain the exact plot of The Visitor is an exercise in futility, but in the maelstrom of madness and mayhem is the tale of an ancient intergalactic entity capable of bearing Earthly children endowed with great powers. Powers which some are keen to harness and some to destroy. Eight year old Katy Collins is one such child, and as her powers emerge, the battle for her soul is about to begin.
One of the strangest things about The Visitor is just how stacked the cast is. The film features appearances from John Huston (Chinatown), Mel Ferrer (War and Peace), Glenn Ford (Superman), Shelley Winters (The Night of the Hunter), Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch) and even Franco Nero – yes, that Franco Nero – playing none other than Jesus. That alone should give you some idea of the kind of film we’re dealing with here.
At its core, The Visitor tells a story about the battle between good and evil, but the way it goes about it is… well, completely bonkers. The film is undeniably visually striking, packed with surreal imagery and wild ideas, but the narrative itself is all over the place and often feels like it barely makes sense. It’s the kind of movie that’s hard to follow, but strangely fascinating because of it.
The Visitor has been transferred to 4K UHD in 2160p, presented in widescreen format. The audio track is the original lossless mono audio and there is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. This transfer comes from a brand new 4K restoration of the 109-min European version of the film from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films. And it has been beautifully restored – the film looks and sounds amazing. But Arrow Video didn’t stop there, as usual, they’ve added tons of bonus features, including:
Bonus Features:
- Brand new audio commentary by film critics BJ & Harmony Colangelo
- A Biblical Battle for the Cosmos, a brand new visual essay by film critic Meagan Navarro
- A Cosmic Right to Choose, a brand new visual essay by film critic Willow Catelyn Maclay
- Archive interview with actor Lance Henriksen
- Archive interview with screenwriter Lou Comici
- Archive interview with cinematographer Ennio Guarnieri
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Erik Buckham
- Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing by Marc Edward Heuck, Richard Kadrey, Craig Martin, and Mike White
Arrow Video have packed this release with a mix of brand-new and archival special features, making this 4K edition of The Visitor feel truly special. Over the years the film has built up a strong cult following, so longtime fans will be thrilled to see it given such a deluxe treatment. Casual viewers, however, may find the film completely insane – but that’s also part of its strange appeal.
*** 3/5
If you love weird, wild, and crazy cinema, or if you enjoy stunning effects, with little story. Well, The Visitor may be for you. The film may not be spectacular, but the 4K release truly is something special.
______
